Champlain Orchards

Butterfly Bakery of Vermont & Fat Toad Farm

"Butterfly Bakery gives us a market we don’t have to invent or manage every single day. If I get a flat tire, I’m not missing my one chance to sell that week. Our days are more predictable and our mission is clearer. We can focus on growing 15 crops really well instead of juggling 30 just to stay competitive at the farmers’ market. I can focus on farming instead of marketing."

- Geoff Kleis of Familia Farm

Champlain Orchards

POWERED BY THE PASSION OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COLLECTIVE LOVE OF THE LAND - Our audacious apples are ecologically grown with intention and care - healthier for the soil, healthier for you! Everything we produce is an expression of our family-owned orchards. From our 175+ varieties of fruits to our handcrafted provisions and crisp ciders, we invite you to discover the taste of the Champlain Valley and this beautiful place we call home.

Champlain Orchards began in 1998 when Bill Suhr, at 27 years old, purchased 60 acres in Shoreham, Vermont, motivated by a dream to live sustainably off the land. Despite lacking experience in apple growing and fruit farming, Bill’s passion for the environment and his entrepreneurial spirit drove the orchard's transformation.

From its early days, the orchard has grown through community collaboration, the support of knowledgeable neighbors, and the indispensable help of Bill’s wife and business partner, Andrea Scott. Together, they have nurtured the orchard into a vital source of locally grown, ecologically conscious produce. Andrea, with her background in integrated natural resources and passion for community education, has been pivotal in developing the orchard’s Eco Apple and Organic programs. Her influence ensures that the orchard remains dedicated to ethical farming practices.

Today, Champlain Orchards is a testament to sustainable agricultural success, managing over 220 acres and offering more than 115 varieties of apples alongside a diverse range of fruits like plums, peaches, and berries. Other value-added products like sweet cider, hard cider, and homemade pies are all produced with the same ecological care.

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